Published: April 02, 2008 10:30 am      

Hays deputy uses Taser on student

A 16-year-old boy who was Tasered by a Hays sheriff’s deputy on Monday will be charged with criminal mischief and assault on a peace officer, authorities said.

Just when that happens, however, will likely be determined by the results of a psychological evaluation.

The boy, who wasn’t named because he is a juvenile, disrupted then walked out of his class at Hays High School around 1 p.m. on Monday, Sheriff’s spokesman Leroy Opiela said.

He reportedly walked around the campus, kicking lights and attacking other school property. Opiela said damage was more than $500 but less than $1,500.

When Deputy Roger Ramirez, one of two School Resource Officers assigned to the campus, tried to stop him, the student head-butted Ramirez, Opiela said.

Ramirez responded by using the Taser stun gun.

The campus was placed on lockdown for about 30 minutes, “until they got control of him,” Opiela said. School operations then resumed normally.

Ramirez “received medical attention and was released to return to work,” Opiela said.

Deputies are required to file use of force reports whenever a Taser is used.